Stretching and tacking implement



Filed May 27, 1949 c. M. LINDSTROM 2,562,469

STRETCHING AND TACKING IMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3L 195] c. M.LINDsTRoM 2,562,469

STRETCHING AND TACKING IMPLEMENT Filed May 27, 19,49

2 Sheets-Sheel 2A A fm @jen a; WQSMLM MS?,

Patented July 31, l1951 .Charles M f Lindstrom, Westerly, R. I.,'as'signor -to Bostitc'h Inc.,-'.Stonington, Conn.,'a' corpora- 'tion ofRhode Island .lApplication-MaylZf, 1949, Serial.No..-ll5.,645

(CLI-45.6)

l Claims.

This .invention `relates to ,.stapling .implements or tackers,so-called,1for. fastening strip-materials to :-Xed surfaces .or .other.objects and particularly yto Aa combined workfgripping .and stapling ortacking `.implcmentior seizing and holding the stripematerialfina:desired position while'driving vstaples therethrough to ,fasten it inplace.

One Vobject of lthe .invention .is .to ,provide .a

manually-operable implement embodying stapling or `tacliing mechanism:of iany suitable ltype and having combined therewith :means by `which.the iWork, such as a -Btrfp @of material, may -be gripped adjacent .its.edge, idrawn into place or stretchedon'afsurfacefand heldzduring thestapling or tacking-nperation.

.Another object'isto, provideanimplement having plier-like means whichAmay be .fheld and actuated by one `hand .of .the operator @to cause the`gripping means Ato Aseize itheworl; for gpcsitioning itwhile'leaving-thepoperatorsothenhand free for manipulation of thelstaple-driving or tacking mechanism.

. Another Y object :is ltoprovide Aan implement sof the type specified-in which -Zthe plier-means: may be o peratedrst to .grip the-tstripaofmaterial or other :work with thersta'ple-,applying mechanism lockedagainst operation and embodying manually-operable -means ".for actuatinglthe stapledriving means -Which is releasable rfor :operation after th'estrip-material.hastbeenggrippedbyPthe plier-actuated lmeans.

, Another -ob'ject `is Ato.- pro.vide an :implement .of the typeIindicated fembodying imaterial-gripping means fand -fstaple-applyingmeans fcombined .in a *single 'unit .of simple f construction,economical to manufacture and j-proof againstiderangement or getting outof order.

.Eurther objects of fthe invention 1 are :set -`forth infthe followingspecification-which describes the implement as'fenibozdied infie.preferred :form-'of construction illustrated 'by ithe 'accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings:

.Fig. 1 lfis "Va-side elevational view-of lthe complete implement shownLwith its gripping jaws open 'and the staple-applying means -lo'f'ikedagainst operation;

' "Fig. .2 a longitudinal sectional 'view .'of the implementshowing.theparts'thereof in the same relationship as in .`Fi g..'.1..and .illustrating a vstrip orrell o'f staplesbeing applied to themagazine;

Fig. 3 is ajside view'or" 'the .implement showing the manner `o'f itsoperation for gripping and stretching a .strip di material "forfastening lit to ajxed surface;

`jl'ig. 4 is a similar side'view showin'glthemanu- 'allyfoperable means.as .having been actuated vithlthe staple .driven through '.thematerial`and into `the' surface ...therebeneatl'i and 2 Fig. 5 is 1a rfront-elevational .View of theimplement,

The present implement lis vgenerally similar Vto that `illustrated and.described in my 'United States vLetters Patent 'l\ o. '2,461,165 orlebruary 8, 1949,'.as regards*itsstaple-'applying mechanism and themeans for .feeding the staples. thereto.. Otherwise, itdiffersmaterially fromthe implement disclosed inthepatent referred to, .particularly since the .staple-applying..mechanism is normally locked fromoperation Vand adaptedto be actuated only 'after'the jawsfof .thegripping means `have'been closed to gripj the material 'to be fastened.

The present implement 'embodies certain .ele-f ments of the device ofthe patent referred .to above comprising a hollow .magazine-arm? ofchannel-shape for containing `a supply of vstaples and an overlyingllever 7'3, vof inverted .channelshape pivoted thereto .bya:transverse'pin 4 and carryingthe 'staple-driver V5 at itsforward en d.The magazine V2 encloses a staple-'core GeXtending longitudinally withinits interiorior supporting U-shaped staples straddled'thereacross, -andapusher 'Bis Isliolable along the `core and urged forwardly thereon `by.means of a coiled spring 9 to feed 'the staples 'to the fdriving'means;these parts not being lshown or described more .in dejtail in the`present specication as they are of conventional type and welrknownto.rthoseverse'cl in the art. u y

Connected rto the 'forward end ,of the .hollow arm or lever 3'is'thestaplee'driver ofbladelilgeI construction and Aadapted to reciprocatevertig` cally in a narrow -guideway orthroat I0 at the forward end ofthefcorei'in accordancewithjthe usual arrangement.` A bowed spring I2fastened to the under s'ideof thetop wall of the armor lever -3 bearsagainstthe edges of :theside walls of the magazine-arm @2 uto normallymaintain the'leverraised'to thepositio'n-sho-wn in Figs. f1 and '2 withthelower edge of the 'driver-"5 elevated above the top ofthes'taple--core Vr(i. The upward movement of the lever "3 undertheaction 'of the spring 'I`2 is limited by means of detent-vv projectionsl'3 'projecting inwardly 'from Aits L-sides and engaging lwithlugs I'1'4fon the sidesoi the arm'2 at its fcrwardendfsee Figsl vand'2. Y'Thedetent-projec'tions T|3'1may be tformed vby strips of thel metalshear'edv from the 'sides of thelev'er 3 and punched or 'forcedinwardly,-while^the"lugs I4 project rearwardly from vupstanding portionsof the magazineiar'm "#2 Cas more particularlydscribed in my patentreferred Ato above. X

As in the machineoimylatent *No1 2,461,165, referred 5to above, the armor:lever Iil provided with an vopening .15 ,in its "top wallfsee`Fig.,"2 through whicha stickJ'S oryrell .of .connected staples .'s may.be ,loaded .into the magazineearrn 2 .after.-previous1y.supplied.staples 4have .beemexhausted therefrom. For this purpose thestaplepusher 8 maybe withdrawn against the action of its spring 9 bymeans of a slidable member |6 which also serves as a cover for themagazine overlying the heads or crossbars of the staples to prevent themfrom ridingup on the core E. The cover-member I6 has alongitudinallyextending slot |1 in its top through which a hook-like lug|8 on the staple-pusher 8 projects to adapt it to be engaged by theforward end of the slot when the cover is drawn out at the rear of themagazine-arm to retract the staplepusher. The cover I6 is held in itsforward position by locking means, not herein shown, and maintained inretracted relationship by frictional engagement with the spring |2 toovercome the force of the pusher-spring 9.

As so far described, the elements of the present implement aresubstantially identical with those disclosed in my prior patent referredto above. The gripping means of the implement for seizing a strip offabric, such as floor-covering, screen-cloth or other material, areconstructed as next described. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottomwall 2| of the arm 2 is scored or serrated at its forward end to form aseries of sharp teeth 22. The toothed portion 22 of the arm 2 forms theupper jaw of the gripping means of the implement, while the lower jaw 23is embodied in a separate arm 25 of hollow construction having its sidesoverlapping the sides of the magazine-arm 2 and pivoted at its rearwardend on the pivot-pin 4. The arm 25 is of channelshane with its jawportion 23 formed of hardened metal inserted into its end and welded orotherwise secured thereto. The upper face of the jaw 23 may be serratedto form teeth 24.

The jaw 23 is adapted to be moved towards the serrated jaw-section 22 ofthe arm 2 by swinging the arm 25 upwardly under the force of amanually-operated lever 26. The lever 25 is pivoted on a transverse-pin21 projecting through the sides of the arm 25 and frictionally held inplace by means of the looped end 23 of a spring 29. The spring 29 hasits rearward end bearing against the under side of the magazine-arm 2with its bowed portion engaging against the bottom wall of the jaw-arm25 to normally maintain the latter depressed below the magazine-arm. Thelever 26 has a handle-portion 30 of hollow convex shape projectingdownwardly in inclined relation below the jaw-member 25 while its upperportion is bifurcated to provide a pair of arms 3| projecting into thehollow of the arm or lever 3 adjacent its side walls, see Figs. 1 and 2.The ends of the arms 3| are formed with hook-like portions 32 engagingaround studs 33 projetcing inwardly from the sides of the lever 3 withflanged heads 34 at their ends. Rearwardly of the openings in thehook-portions 32 the edges of the arms 3| are shaped with camfaces 35designed to operate with mechanical advantage when the handle 30 of thelever 26 is pressed upwardly to rock the jaw-member 25 toward themagazine-arm 2 to close the jaws 22 and 23; this arrangement beingsimilar to that described in my prior patent referred to above.

It will be understood that manual movement of the lever 26 wouldnormally act to draw the lever 3 downwardly relatively to themagazinearm 2 to cause reciprocation of the staple-driver for drivingthe foremost staple from the magazine. However, the staple-drivingoperation must be delayed until the lever 26 is actuated to close thejaws 23 to grip the material. For this purpose detent-means are providedto prevent relative movement between the driver-lever 3 and themagazine-arm 2 until the jaws have been closedrand the material grippedand drawn into place as represented in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thedetent-means for preventing movement of the lever 3 with respect to thearm 2 is in the form of a pivoted element which functions initially as alatch to lock these parts against such movement. The latching element 40is of hollow construction, see Fig. 5, comprising a pair of parallelarms 4| pivoted on studs 42 screwed into the sides of the lever 3.Reaching downwardly from the pivot-studs 42 the arms 4| extend beyondthe under side of the lever 3 with their ends adapted to engage lugs 44which project from the sides of the magazine-arm 2 at the rear of itsjaw portion 22. The lugs 44 are formed by the ends of a strip 45 weldedor otherwise fastened to the bottom of the magazinearm 2. A wire spring46 having a portion coiled around one of the studs 42 is formed with anarm 41 projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom with its end hookedaround the edge of one side wall 4| of the member 4U. The opposite arm46 of the spring 46 reaches upwardly and is hooked around the top of thelever 3, see Figs. 1 and 5, whereby it operates to normally maintain thelatching member 40 rocked to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 withthe ends of its legs 4| in position to engage the lugs 44 on the underside of the magazine-arm 2. A nger or projection 49 on one of the legs4| of the latching elements 40 is adapted to engage the top of the lever3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to limit the rocking movement of the elementunder the force of its spring 46 and maintain it in the relationshiplast described.

Overlying the top of the latching element 40 is a hand-rest 50 fastenedto the top wall thereof by screws 5|, see Fig. 2, against which pressuremay be exerted to manually rock the member forwardly. The forepart ofthe member 40 has portions of its side arms 4| folded inwardly toprovide abutments 52, see Fig. 5, adapted to strike against the top ofthe lever 3 to rock it downwardly on the arm 2 to reciprocate the driver5 for driving a staple into the work after the stripmaterial has beengripped between the jaws 22 and 23. It will be understood that downwardpressure on the hand-rest 50 of the member 40 rocks the latter first torelease the ends of its arms 4| from the lugs 44 to allow the lever 3 tobe actuated as above described, this operation of the member 40 usuallybeing accomplished by striking the hand-rest 50 with the st. The methodof operation of the complete implement is explained as follows:

To prepare the implement for operation the staple-pusher 8 is retractedby drawing back the cover-member I6. A strip or refill S of staples s isthen loaded in the magazine 2 by inserting it through the latchingelement 40 and down through the opening I5 in the top of the lever 2 torest on the core 6. The staple-pusher 8 may then be released for slidingthe staples s forwardly on the core 6 to position` the foremost one inthe throat I0 beneath the driver 5.

The implement may be gripped in the hand with the palm overlying the topof the lever 3 and the fingers looped under the handle 30 of the lever26. The lower jaw 23 may then be inserted under the strip of material Mto be tacked or fastened in place and by rocking the lever 26 upwardlyin the manner of pliers the jaws 22 vand .2.3. are.;broughtf'together.toe-seize the mate- .lever .3 to drive a staple throughthe A,materialand into the surface of `.the.;iioor or a :wooden frame ,F.indicated `inFig. V4. Under .the :initial foi-'ee .of `izhe blow `onjhe :hand-.rest501the latching element fill) will :be .rocked .about ,theipivotstuds4.2 @in acounterclockwise direction Lto cause the ends .ofitslegsdl stoswing .clear ofthe lugs Minn the .magazine-.arm .2. .Immediately theendsfof the ,legs 4I of the latohing .elementdllare freed-fromengagemen'twith the lugs 441on1th'e arm 2 the ,element :will:continue.its rocking motion ato contaottheabutments 52 .-'onits fore part with.the top Aof the lever 13 ,so that thereafter .the force ofthe blow willrock the :lever .downwardly,therebyreciproeatingthe staple-.driver downthroughthe Vthroat ll, see .Fig .2, to `.drive v.the foremost :staple#through'thezmaterial .M and into the surface Aon @which .the istrip isto be fastened, as frshownin Fig. .4. Upon release .of :the operatorfshand .from '.therest 5U the lever y3 will .be allowed :to `Sswing:upwardly .underxtheforce of its lspring lf2 and as .the ends of thelegs dlfon the latching element .4.0 islide .upwardly :across vthe :lugsM the :latching .el'ement'fwill :be rocked back into .locking ,position:shown inlligs. 1 and 2 to again :prevent vrelative v movement .betweenthe lever V3.and1the stapling :arm r2. Thereupon, the handle lever 126.maybe released .to :open fthe jaws 2-2 :and .23 to yprovide .forgripping :the strip at ianother Apoint 'along Vits edge. While theimplement :is .illustrated in Figs. .3 vand .4 as `grip- Ding the`strip-materialM :at a considerable :distance inwardly `from its edge,.the .extent to :which the-strip may .be Yinsertedinthe jaws .isvariable and 4most instances fthe .material may .be gripped ,close toitsmarginaledge.

.Asthejp'arts of the implementare/returned :to inoperative position`4with .the vlever 3 ltand 4magazine-.arm 2 locked against.relative..movement the :staple-.driver V5 will .-be Aheld in .elevatediposition above the staple-core `6 4so that the next staple-in the stripS Vcan :be :fed forwardly by the pusher 8 to nlocate Ait under .the.lower edge of :the driver .for .the v:next driving operation.

It :will fbe observed .from v the :foregoing description vthat `.theipresent invention provides fan implement ;of ,great .utility forvgripping :and ltaoking flexible materials -to :fixed surfaces .orlother objects such as stretching fur-pelts, animal skins and fthevlikezand .fastening 'them to a mounting board, laying carpets,fastening silk-screens to frames, and forimany. other" similar purposes.

.While xthe..-imple1fnent .is ,herein shown andadoscribed in a preferredform of :construction Lit ris to be understood.thatmodiiioationsm-ay bemade in the structure and arrangement of its parts without'-departingfrom thespirit or ,scopel'o'f the invention. Therefore, without limitingmyself in this res'pledtgi'ifrclaim:

1. In .an implement for-gripping and stretchingashee't-material andthereafter fastening it to other objects comprising a magazine forcontaining fasteners, said magazine having a jaw formation .at itsfom/validv end,.fa .if-.astener-.driver ntor Ydriving the fasteners.from..thefmagazine1and .into .the rwork, .Jand'means for operating 'the:fastener-driver, the combination therewithzof :a ijaw lmovabl'e towards:fthe 4magazine to .grip :a 'strip A.of material therebetween, .a .leverfor iop- Aerating-.fsaid jaw, :and detent-fmeans :engageable 'with thefastener-driverfoperating lmeans lfor Lpreventingffoperaitioniof thefastener-driver "during -theoperati'on of thejaw for gripping the-material.

2`. 'in an Iimplement for gripping and lstretch-- ing fsheetematerial-'and V'thereafter"fastening `vit `to other-objects comprisingfaimagazine 4for containing fasteners, said magazine ".Eormedftoprovide'a -jaw 'at itsforward fend, A-a 'fastener-driver ifor drivingthe fastenersfrom -the magazine and `"into the work, and means r'foroperating the fastenerdriver, `the Vcombination therewith Vof a YjawJmovable 'towards the kmagazine Y'to grip afstripfof materialtherebetween, means yffo-rpperating said ja-W, and =detent^meansengageable -with `the fastener-driver Aoperating means to preventoperation lof the fastener-driver Eduring the :movement of the ljaw,"said detent-means being manually releer-sable `-to permit :operation ofithe fastener-driver.

B. In-fan 'implement for vgripping and stretching sheet-material 'and`thereafter Afastening 'it to'otherobjects comprising a-magazi-neforlcontaining fasteners, --said magazine provided with a `jaw at fitsforward end, :fastener-driving means forldriving `the `fasteners firomthe magazine and into the work, and manually-operable'means fforoperating the fastener-driving gmeans, -the -combination therewith of anarm pivoted to said magazine and provided with a vjaw vfor cooperationwith lthe jaw "thereon, `and `detent-means normally engaged with saidmanually-operable means for `operating ithe fastener-driving `means forpreventing operation ofthe `fastener-driving means ywhilelthe jaws A'arebeing closed togripthe material, usaid detent-means :being releasable topermit operation of the 'fastener-driving means to Adrive a fastenerinto the `work at 'a vpoint in advance fof 'the AVjaws.

#4. in an Iimplement for `gripping and holding 'sheet-material and`rfastening itin Yplace comprising a magazine for 4containing staples,'said maga/zine having a throat at `its `forward end and a jaw on -itsunder fside, a lever pivoted to the 'magazine andearrying a driver fordriving thestaplesJthrough the throatand into'the work, the combinationtherewith of alatching'member having a ihand-rest, said latchingmember'being manually movable to foperate the Idriver-earryir1 g lever,-detent-me'ans for 'engaging vsaid latchingmember Ato :lock -saiddriver-carrying ,lever lfrom movement relatively to the magazine, 'an.arm having a ljaw for Acooperation -with the jaw on thefmagazine, andJasecond lever for swinging said arm to carry its jaw towardthejaw onthe magazine to grip the material, saidV latching member 1being`manually releasable Yfrom the detent-means toladapt-it to operate thedriverlever to-drive -a-s'taple-'after the `jaws #have gripped the`material therebetween.

35.ilnaniimplement off the 'character specified comprising la hollowmagazine for containing ay supply 'of v'staplesysaid magazine formedwith a throat `through which vthe staples Jare driven,

and provided 1-with La l-jaw -on vits under side, and a driverzrec'iprocable 'in the throat 4of vthemagameer env-mg the KSaper, im@the work, the combination therewith of a lever for reciprocating thedriver, a latching member pivoted to said lever and having a hand-restfor operating the lever to actuate the driver to drive a staple,detent-means for normally engaging said latching member to preventoperation of the staple-driver, an arm pivoted to the magazine andformed with a jaw at its end for cooperation with the jaw on themagazine to grip the material therebetween, and a lever for swinging thearm towards the magazine to grip the material between the jaws, saidlatching member being manually releasable from the detent-means topermit reciprocation of the staple-driver to drive a staple into thework after the jaws have been closed to grip the material.

6. In a plier-like implement for gripping and stretching strip-materialand fastening it to a surface comprising a magazine for containingstaples, said magazine having a throat through which the staples may bedriven and a gripping jaw on its under side, a lever movable relativelyto the magazine, a driver reciprocable by said lever in the throat inthe magazine to drive the staples therefrom, the combination therewithof an arm pivoted to the magazine and formed with a jaw at its end forcooperation with the jaw on the magazine, a second lever pivoted to saidarm and having means connecting it to the driverlever for moving saidarm to close the jaws, and a latching member pivoted to the driver-leverand engageable with detent-means on the magazine to prevent relativemovement between the driverlever and the magazine, said latching memberbeing rockable to release it from the detentmeans on the magazine andhaving a hand-rest to adapt it to be moved by the pressure of the handto actuate the driver-lever to reciprocate the driver and drive a stapleinto the work after the material has been gripped by the jaws.

7. In an implement of the character specied comprising a magazine forcontaining U-shaped staples and provided with a throat through which thestaples are driven, a driver reciprocable in the throat of the magazinefor driving the staples therethrough, and a pivoted lever forreciprocating the driver, the combination therewith of an arm pivoted tothe magazine and formed with a jaw for cooperation with the under sidethereof to grip a strip of material therebetween, a hand-lever pivotedto said arm and connected to the driver-lever to swing the arm to closeits jaw against the magazine, a latch pivoted to the driver-lever,detent-means on the magazine engageable by the latch to prevent relativemovement between the driver-lever and magazine, and a spring fornormally maintaining the latch engaged with said detentmeans, said latchbeing manually operable to release it from the detent-means and having ahand-rest for applying a force to move the driver-lever toward themagazine to drive a staple therefrom.

8. In an implement of the character specied having a hollow magazine forcontaining staples with a throat at its end through which the staplesmay be driven into the work, a lever pivoted at one end of the magazineand adapted to swing relatively thereto, and a staple-driver connectedto said lever for reciprocation in the throat of the magazine, thecombination therewith of a latching member pivoted to the driverleverand engageable with detent-means on the magazine to prevent movement ofthe driverlever, said latching member being manually rockable on thedriver-lever to release it from the detent-means and operable when soreleased to move said driver-lever to reciprocate the staple-driver, anarm pivoted to the magazine and formed with a jaw cooperating with thebottom of the magazine to grip a strip of material therebetween,resilient means for normally maintaining said arm with its jaw spacedfrom the magazine, and a lever pivoted to the arm and engageable withmeans on the driver-lever to move the arm to close the jaws for grippinga strip of material therebetween.

9. In an implement of the character specied comprising a magazine-armfor containing staples and provided with a throat at its forward endthrough which the staples may be driven, a driver reciprocable in saidthroat to drive the staples from the magazine and into the Work, and alever pivoted to the magazine to move relatively thereto to reciprocatethe driver, the combination therewith of an arm pivoted to the magazineand formed with a jaw for cooperation therewith to grip a strip ofmaterial therebetween, a lever pivoted to said arm and formed with ahandle projecting downwardly in inclined relation thereto, said leverprovided with hooked arms engageable with studs on the driver-lever andhaving cam-faces cooperating with the studs to apply mechanicaladvantage to thc movement of the arm and jaw toward the magazine, andlatching means engageable between the driver-lever and the magazine toprevent relative movement therebetween until the material has beengripped, said latching means being manually releasable to permitmovement of the driver-lever and operable by a force applied thereto tomove said lever to reciprocate the driver and drive a staple into thework.

10. An implement for gripping and holding sheet material and fasteningit in place comprising a magazine for containing staples, a driver fordriving the staples from the magazine and into the work, a lever forreciprocating said driver, a latching member pivoted to said lever andprovided with a hand-rest, detent-means on the magazine engageable withthe latching member to prevent relative movement between the lever andmagazine, a spring for rocking said latching lever to engage it withsaid detentmeans, a jaw at the forward end of the magazine, an arm forcooperation with the jaw on the magazine, and a hand-lever pivoted tothe driverlever and pivotally connected to the arm t0 swing the lattertoward the magazine and close the jaws, said latching member beingmanually rockable to release it from the detent-means and when soreleased to be moved by the pressure of the hand to swing thedriver-lever toward the magazine and actuate the driver to drive astaple therefrom after the jaws have been closed.

CHARLES M. LINDS'I'ROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 728,898 Gastaldi May 26, 1903FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,258 Norway June 2l, 1900

